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Michigan would need to win tourney
to make it to dance; likely headed to NIT again
It looks
like it will be another year in NIT tournament postseason purgatory
for
the Michigan Wolverines men’s hoops team.
The Wolverines
blew what was probably their best shot at getting into the NCAA
tournament last Saturday when they let a late game lead slip and
lost at home to
the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Technically,
it may still be too early to count Michigan out. They could still
win
the Big Ten Tournament this weekend and earn an automatic bid in
the NCAA
tournament.
This is,
however, the same tournament that will be featuring Ohio State and
Wisconsin - two teams that each defeated Michigan twice in the regular
season.
It would
be unfair to say that Michigan has zero chance of winning. Far greater
upsets have occurred. The U.S. beat the Soviets in 1980. The Red
Sox came
back from being down three games to none against the Yankees in
2004.
It’s
probably safe to say this won’t be one of those magical years
for the
Wolverines though.
Michigan,
the eight seed in the tournament, tips-off Thursday at noon against
the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the nine seed. The Gophers bring in
a
disappointing 9-21 record.
On paper,
the Wolverines should have no trouble getting past Minnesota and
on
to the second round of the tourney. If they do, however, they will
be looking at
yet another match-up with number one ranked Ohio State.
Michigan,
in all likelihood, would have to win the Big Ten tournament to get
into
the big dance. Getting past Ohio State and Wisconsin just doesn’t
seem to be in the
cards for this team.
The Wolverines
had their chances at both teams in the regular season with an
opportunity to prove to the tournament selection committee that
they could win
a big game.
Michigan’s
biggest win was only against interstate rival Michigan State - a
team
that has been unranked for much of the season.
They just
don’t have the resume to put themselves in the NCAA tournament.
Coach Tommy Amaker and the boys will be headed back to the place
that by
now has probably become familiar to them - the NIT tournament.
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